Dorothy Lucille Godfrey
GODFREY, Dorothy Lucille — Age 85, of Sutherlin, Oregon, passed away at her home on January 9, 2007.
She was born in Cottage Grove, Oregon, on Oct. 4, 1921, to the proud Oregonian parents; father, Ernest Gilbert Seely and mother was school teacher Lucille Seely.
They moved while Dorothy was still very young to the homestead on the Callahan Ridge where their mule was killed by a mountain lion.
The lion met the same demise by the hand of her mother Lucille Seely who felt it was necessary to eliminate that mountain lion.
So, after this, it was Dorothy and George her older brothers job to lead Babe the blind pack cow to town to get supplies.
They also had to walk several miles daily just to go to school.
The other young girls around Dorothy's age would joke around about waiting for their man Godfrey to come to rescue them.
Lo and behold, at the sweet age of 16, she would boast that she had in fact found her man Godfrey whose actual name was Jean Godfrey who became her husband of 53 years until his death.
Five children, 14 grandchildren, 21 great-grandchildren and three great-great-grandchildren were also part of her legacy.
But the real, true Dorothy was observed in her home as a loving heart where she embraced family and friends with open arms and a bright smile.
She was, in fact, the most gracious hostess ever known. As a young wife hardship was everywhere, not only for her and her family, but everyone shared the same.
One day when she needed groceries and there was no car, she hopped into the truck to get groceries. I know you think, "So what?"
Well it wasn't an ordinary truck, it was a logging truck.
There were other times that she also had to take a sandrail. She was a perfect mother with baking bread and beans almost daily. Driving son, Don to almost all of his wrestling matches.
When getting a motel she would tell the kids to make sure to use all the towels and hot water as they had paid good money for the room. After Rice Creek, they moved to Winchester Bay, Oregon, and while Jean worked in the mill she and mother-in-law Daisy opened the D&D Cafe for five years.
Then, on a whim, they moved to B.C.; Fort Fraser, Hazelton, Prince George, Anzac, Merritt, Kamloops and Vavenby in 1974. While in Vavenby, she went to work at the local sawmill against Jean's wishes. She started on clean-up, was promoted through several jobs ending with operating the double arbor gangsaw.
She resided there, after Jean's death in 1989, for five more years on her own until her youngest son, Mike moved her down to Sutherlin, Oregon. She was only down there a short time and she was bored with nothing to do. She decided to volunteer at the Senior's Center in the kitchen for several years as well as joining the Eagles, where she was involved as Madam President of the Ladies Auxiliary and Vice-president of several other committees.
She also enjoyed gambling, where most times she won more than she spent. One time she won the $10,000 scratch off and several other amounts. She made several trips to Reno, Nevada, in which she paid for all expenses and rooms for everyone.
She loved to go to casinos where she also won more than she lost. Bingo at the Eagles was a must, where daubers were flying and, "Bingo!" was being yelled.
Visitation was held Saturday, Jan. 13, 2007 at Chapel of the Firs.